DESCRIPTION  -.. 


-zoo- 


-OF  THE 


CONSOLIDATED 


.^ 


III  Mtfi  Jliitt^^t 


-OWNKD  BY 


JOHN  Q.  A.   ROLLINS, 


GILPIN   COUNTY,  COL. 


GLOBE  STATIONERY  AND  PRINTING  CO. 

89  LlBEKTY   StUEKT. 

1879. 


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DESCRIPTION 


-OF  THE- 


CONSOLIDATED 


GOLD  DIRT  MINES 


-OWNED  BY- 


JOHN  Q.  A.  ROLLINS, 


GILPIN  COUNTY,  COL. 


GLOBE  STATIONERY  AND  PRINTING  CO., 

89  LlBBRTT   STBBBT. 

1879. 


I^k  ||on8oMated  mold  jjirt   Jimes, 


M.INEi\AL     AND      FaI^MING      LaNDS 
OWNED   BY 

JOHN  Q.  A.  ROLLINS 


The  following  described  property  situate  near  RoUins- 
ville,  and  about  ten  miles  from  Central  City,  in  Gilpin 
County,  Colorado,  is  intended  as  a  basis  upon  which  to 
form  a  Company  or  Companies  for  practical  mining  oper- 
ations. 

Most  of  the  Lodes  herein  described  were  discovered  in 
i860  ;  a  large  amount  of  development  followed  the  imme- 
diate discovery  of  the  "  Gold  Dirt''  (now  named  **  Ophir," 
''  Virginia  "  ''  Crown  Point  "  and  '*  Savage,")  and  '•  Maurer" 
(now  named  "  Colorado,"  "  Perigo  ")  and  other  Lodes. 

From  the  time  of  their  discovery  up  to  the  winter  of 
1864,  a  number  of  individuals  and  firms  were  mining  upon 
these  lodes  in  a  very  unskillful  and  unworkman-like  man- 
ner ;  treating  the  ore  in  a  very  crude  way,  and  saving  but 
a  portion  of  the  gold.  During  the  winter  of  '6i,  and  the 
following  summer,  these  mines,  as  well  as  most  of  those  in 
the  Central  City  and  Black  Hawk  Districts,  changed 
owners,  and  eastern  capital  formed  into  Companies,  took 
possession  of  the  country.  Here  began  the  retrograde  of 
the  mining  interest  that  came  near  blotting  out  Gilpin 
County  as  a  mining  District,  (now  the  best  lode  gold  min- 
ing camp  in  the  United  States),  and  would  have  done  so. 


but  for  the  fact  that  many  of  the  old  miners  knew  the 
country  to  be  a  vast  mineral  belt,  and  that  the  fault  lay  at 
the  door  of  ignorant  and  impractical  superintendents,  im- 
ported from  commercial  and  other  uncongenial  pursuits, 
and  want  of  knowledge  in  treating  the  ores. 

Prof.  Rossiter  W.  Raymond,  U.  S.  Commissioner  of 
Mines  and  Mining,  has  so  ably  discussed  in  his  statistics  of 
Colorado  mines  and  mining,  as  reported  to  the  House  of 
Representatives,  in  1870,  the  important  questions;  How 
came  those  mines  that  were  once  so  profitable,  to  fail?  What 
is  the  secret  of  the  present  success  of  others  ?  How  can 
many,  now  idle^  be  restored  to  an  active  and  profitable  con- 
dition ?  that  I  extract  briefly  the  following,  (found  on  pages 
347  to  349  inclusive),  of  the  Report  for  1870  : 

"  The  complete  failure  of  the  stamp  mills  in  '63  and  '64,  when  the  surface 
quartz  was  worked  o\xi,  and  the  pyrites  reached,  was  without  doubt  largely 
owing  to  the  inexperience  of  mill-men  ;  for  the  miners  have  now  returned, 
after  an  interval  of  reckless  and  disastrous  experiment,  to  the  old  process, 
which  they  o^erdXe  profitably,  in  spite  of  refractory  ores. 

"  The  process-mania,  commencing  in  '65,  and  lasting  till  "'67,  was  one  of 
the  main  causes  which  damaged  the  reputation  of  the  mines  to  such  a  de- 
gree that  the  country  was  nearly  ruined  by  the  reaction.  Upon  the  first 
failure  of  the  stamp-mills,  (upon  reaching  pyrites),  people  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  the  ore  must  be  roasted  before  the  gold  could  be  amalgamated. 
One  invention  for  this  purpose  followed  another;  desulphwization  became 
the  abracadabra  of  the  new  alchemists,  and  millions  of  dollars  were  wasted 
in  speculations  based  on  the  sweeping  claims  of  perfect  success,  put  for- 
ward by  deluded  or  deluding  proprietors  of  patents."     *     *     * 

Another  cause  of  failure  was  the  prevailing  belief  that  the  anticipated 
magnificent  gains  would  cover  all  minor  extravagance,  lead  to  great  loose- 
ness oi  management;  so  capital  was  wasted ;  stock  was  watered:  large  salaries 
and  high  wages  were  paid  without  a  thought  of  the  inevitable  result.  Now 
all  these  things  have  been  changed,  and  the  business  is  administered  as  any 
other  should  be  with  care  and  economy . 

"Moreover  the  miners  of  Colorado  were  inexperienced  in  deep  mining, 
and  they  made  sad  work  of  it  at  first. 

"  There  were  too  many  Companies  and  too  many  shafts  on  the  same 
vein,  &c.  *  *  These  evils,  combined  with  those  already  mentioned,  to- 
gether with  reckless  stock  speculation,  instead  of  legitimate  raining,  account 
for  the  temporary  depression  in  mining  industry  in  Colorado. 

"  On  the  other  hand,  there  is  abundant  evidence  that  the  mines  themselves 
were  ncH;  to  blame.  I  am  surprised  that  they  have  yielded  so  much  as  they 
have  ;  they  will  prove  equal  to  those  of  any  other  country. 


"If  we  consider,  however,  the  m.ixim  abundantly  illustrated,  that  bad 
management  will  ruin  any  mine,  however  valuable,  we  may  say  with  con- 
fidence that  bad  management  has  done  more  to  injure  mining  in  Colorado 
than  all  other  causes  together.  And  this  bad  management  has  been  four- 
fold in  laws,  in  the  extraction  of  ores,  in  the  reduction  of  ores,  and  in  general 
finance.  Here  too  the  blame  must  be  divided.  Incompetent  agents  have 
doubtless  wasted  money,  but  they  generally  have  acted  under  advice.  Scien  - 
tific  men,  so-called,  have  made  stupendous  mistakes  in  judgment  ;  but  they 
have  been  surpassed  by  the  blunders  of  practical  men,  so-called.  The  scien- 
tific men  without  practice,  and  the  practical  men  without  science,  the  honest 
men  without  capacity,  and  the  smart  men  wtthout  honesty,  have  done  so  much 
to  destroy  the  mining  industry  of  Colorado,  that  the  very  fact  oi  its  continued 
existence  after  so  terrible  a  trial,  is  proof  of  its  inherent  vitality  and  future 
prosperity.  This  year  (70)  marks  a  new  era  of  mining  in  Colorado.  The 
old  spirit  of  idleness  and  speculation  has  passed  away.  The  new  spirit  of 
/<23(;;- and  ^^^«t?//n' has  sprung  into  power.  Especially  in  the  Gilpin  County 
mines,  which  were  the  most  disastrously  affected,  and   the  first  to    recover." 

Gradually  matters  changed.  The  old  owners  and  old 
miners  became  possessed  of  the  abandoned  and  lost 
mmes,  lost  because  of  taxes,  debts,  and  forfeiture  under 
the  Act  of  Congress,  May  lo,  1872,  and  to-day  witnesses 
a  most  prosperous  condition  of  the  mining  interests  in 
Gilpin  County ;  the  Gunnel,  Gregory,  Briggs,  Hidden 
Treasure,  Gravell  &  Wyandotte,  Clark,  Gardner,  Bobtail, 
Burroughs,  Kansas,  Flack  and  many  others  are  enriching 
the  present  owners,  and  no  business  either  east  or  west 
pays  so  handsome  a  profit  as  mining.  If  any  are  credu- 
lous, let  them  go  into  Gilpin,  Clear  Creek,  Boulder  and 
and  Lake  Counties  and  spend  a  few  days,  and  see  for  them- 
selves. 

True  it  is,  that  a  large  percentage  of  the  cause  of  this 
prosperity  is  due  to  the  settled  processes  of  saving  the  metal ; 
but  little  experimenting  \%  being  done,  the  different  modes 
of  treating  the  various  ores  are  now  quite  well  under- 
stood. 

The  present  proprietor  of  the  Gold  Dirt  mines  has  al- 
lowed them  to  drop  out  of  sight,  so  to  speak,  that  he 
might  buy  up,  relocate,  and  get  patents  to  them  before 
calling  public  attention  to  their  known  real  value ;  and 
having  now  received  patents  for  some,  and  having  en- 
tered some,  and  now  holding   land  office  receipts  there- 


for,  the  patents  for  which  are  only  waiting  the  routine  of 
the  Department  to  issue,  he  takes  this  method  to  bring 
before  capitalists  and  miners  the  once  famous  Gold  Dirt 
Belt.  To  be  specific  and  describe  the  property  in  which 
I  am  personally  interested. 

GAMBLE  GULCH,  Placer  Mine. 

Has  been  taken  up  and  patented  by  me  for  the  whole 
distance  from  the  mines  to  Boulder  Creek,  at  RoUinsville, 
and  embracing  about  three  miles  of  gulch  claims,  con- 
taining 112  acres,  which  gulch  cuts  and  crosses  all  the 
lodes  named  in  this  paper  except  three.  These  claims 
were  secured  more  particularly  for  mill  and  water  privi- 
leges, than  for  placer  mining,  and  to  secure  the  right  of 
way  for  a  road  and  tramway  from  the  lodes  to  South 
Boulder  Creek,  where  the  RoUin's  mill  is  located,  and 
where  other  reduction  works  should  be  located. 

There  is,  on  the  line  of  this  road  along  Gamble  Gulch, 
and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mines,  a  large  amount  of  grow- 
ing and  down  timber,  valuable  for  mine  and  mill  purposes, 
and  can  be  laid  down  at  the  mill  at  RoUinsville  for  $1.50 
per  cord,  whereas,  at  Central  City  and  Black  Hawk,  wood 
is  worth  $6.00  per  cord,  cash. 

The  first  lode  crossed  by  Gamble  Gulch,  is  what  was 
formerly  known  as  the  Gold  Dirt,  from  which  there  has 
been  taken  by  different  parties,  up  to  -65 ,  at  least  $  i  ,500,000, 
and  more  than  that  amount  lost  because  of  imperfect 
manipulation.  On  this  lode,  four  locations  have  been 
made^  known  as  the  Ophir^  Crown  Point,  Virginia  and  Sav- 
age claims,  being  in  all  4,800  feet. 

MOON  GULCH,  Placer  Mine. 

This  has  been  taken  up  and  patented  by  me  for  about 
two  miles  in  length.  This  gulch  claim  has  produced 
considerable  gold,  and  is  considered  valuable  for  gulch 
mining  and  timber. 

This  is  the  only  route  leading  into  a  rich  mining  dis- 
trict, and  a  large  tract  of  valuable  timber  land.  This 
gulch  also  runs  direct  to  the  Rollin's  farm  and  mill. 


THE  OPHIR. 

Fifteen  hundred  feet  in  length,  with  125  feet  in  width 
of  surface  ground  ;  fifty  feet  on  the  south  side,  and  seventy- 
five  feet  on  the  north  side. 

This  entry  or  claim,  as  a  part  of  the  celebrated  Gold 
-Dirt  lode,  is  one  of  the  most  thoroughly  developed  in  the 
mining  region,  and  on  which  five  shafts  have  been  sunk; 
one  shaft  about  five  hundred  feet  deep,  four  other  shafts 
from  forty  to  one  hundred  feet  deep,  all  well  timbered, 
good  ore  in  the  bottom  of  each  shaft,  and  especially  in  the 
deep  shaft  and  drifts,  where  there  is  a  crevice  of  from  two 
to  six  feet  wide,  carrying  ore  which  yields  about  $50.00 
to  the  ton,  when  properly  treated.  In  the  deep  shaft, 
there  is  a  pump  which  cost  $3,000,  with  pipes  complete 
to  the  bottom  of  the  shaft.  There  is  on  the  property  two 
good  buildings  for  the  convenient  working  of  the  mine. 
In  Gamble  Gulch  a  tunnel  has  been  started  on  the  crevice 
of  the  Crown  Point,  (which  is  on  the  same  vein  as  the, 
Ophir  and  Virginia),  and  which  will  attain  a  depth  of 
about  400  feet  at  the  Ophir.  This  tunnel  is  in  about  two 
hundred  feet. 

The  following  assay  was  made  from  ore  taken  from  this 
lode : 

Philadelphia,  8th  March,  1864. 
Dear  Sir  : — 

The  sample  of  gold  ore  you  submitted  to  us  for  analysis,  marked 
"  Gold  Dirt  Lode,"  yielded  one  ounce,  five  pennyweights,  and  twelve  grains 
pure  gold,  to  one  hundred  pounds  of  ore. 

Yours  respectfully, 

Booth  &  Garrett. 
In  value  per  ton  of  2,000  pounds,  $593.58. 

Below  is  the  average  of  six  assays,  made  by  Prof.  S.  H. 
Bradford,  of  New  York  City,  of  ores  taken  from  the  Gold 
Dirt  Lode — now  the  Ophir,  Virginia,  and  Crown  Point 
Lodes — in  the  year  1865.  Prof.  Bradford  was  sent  to  Gold 
Dirt,  as  an  expert,  by  the  Rollins  Gold  Co.,  of  NewYork, 
to  test  the  ores  from  said  lodes. 

Average  of  six  assays,  $137.40  in  gold,  per  ton  of  2,030 
pounds. 


VIRGINIA  LODE. 

Three  hundred  feet  in  length  and  150  feet  in  width. 

This  is  a  part  of  the  old  *'  Gold  Dirt"  Lode,  lying  be- 
tween the  ''  Ophir  "  and  *'  Crown  Point"  claims.  Out  of 
this  claini  there  has  been  taken  out  over  $450,000.  There 
is  a  good  vein  and  plenty  of  quartz  in  bottom  of  shaft. 

CROWN  POINT. 

Claim  is  1,500  feet  in  length,  and  150  feet  in  width,  of 
surface  ground,  seventy-five  feet  on  each  side. 

This  is  another  portion  of  the  old  Gold  Dirt  Lode,  and 
west  from  the  Virginia,  last  above  described.  A  tunnel  has 
been  started  in  Gamble  Gulch,  on  this  vein,  running  east, 
and  is  now  in  about  200  feet.  On  the  surface  there  are 
three  shafts ;  one  about  eighty  feet  deep,  about  100  feet 
from  the  east  end ;  another  about  200  feet  from  the  east 
end,  about  thirty  feet  deep  ;  within  200  feet  from  the  west 
end,  one  about  1 50  feet  deep ;  all  shafts  and  drifts  showing 
to.  body  of  mineral.  One  hundred  pounds  of  ore  were 
taken  from  the  above  described  shafts,  thoroughly  mixed 
and  assayed.     (See  certificates  of  assay  above.) 

SAVAGE. 

Claim  is  1,500  feet  in  length  and  150  feet  in  width  of 
surface  ground,  seventy-five  feet  on  each  side.     *     -5^     * 

This  is  a  continuation  west  of  the  Ophir,  Virginia  and 
Crown  Point  claims  and  on  the  old  Gold  Dirt  vein,  and 
formerly  known  as  the  Lyneus,  and  is  west  of  Gamble 
Gulch ;  one  shaft  sunk  to  a  depth  of  about  fifty  feet,  and 
to  a  well  defined  crevice  of  good  gold-bearing  quartz. 
This  lode  can  be  worked  by  tunnel  commenced  on  the 
west  end  of  the  Crown  Point,  in  Gamble  Gulch,  and  will 
attain  a  depth  of  about  1,000  feet.  This  claim  has  Httle 
development,  but  shows  well  in  quartz. 

NEW  YORK  LODE. 
Fifteen  hundred  feet  in  length,  and  fifty  feet  in  width  ot 
surface  ground,  twenty-five  feet  on  each  side. 


This  is  an  old  lode,  discovered  in  1853,  and  has  been 
worked  very  extensively.  There  are  eight  or  ten  shafts ; 
the  discovery  shaft  is  sixty  feet  deep,  and  down  to  a  well 
defined  crevice  of  iron  pyrites,  two  feet  in  width.  The 
top  ore  has  been  worked  out  to  a  great  extent,  and  yielded 
in  a  stamp  mill  from  $100.00  to  $250.00  per  cord.  A  tun- 
nel is  started  in  Gamble  Gulch,  on  the  east  end,  now  in 
fifty  feet,  well  timbered  and  protected,  and  will  attain  a 
depth  of  1,000  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  hill.  This 
lode  has  always  been  considered  among  the  best. 

The  following  assay  was  made  from  ore  taken  from  this 
lode: 

Philadelphia,  2oth  March,  1864. 
Dear  Sir: — 

The  ore  which  you  left  with  us  for  assay,  from  the  New  York  Lode, 
Colorado,  is  found  by  us  to  yield  per  ton  of  2,000  pounds,  in  gold  $92  81. 
Respectfully  yours, 

Du  Bois  &  Williams. 

WHITE  PINE  LODE. 

Fifteen  hundred  feet  in  length,  and  150  feet  in  width  of 
surface  ground,  seventy-five  feet  on  each  side. 

This  is  an  old  lode,  formerly  known  as  the  Wisconsin, 
is  situated  on  the  west  side  of  Gamble  Gulch,  and  has 
been  worked  quite  extensively,  has  four  shafts.  The  dis- 
covery shaft  is  about  100  feet  deep,  and'  from  it  a  large 
amount  of  ore  has  been  taken  out  and  milled.  The  other 
three  shafts  are  about  thirty  feet  deep  each,  and  down  to 
a  well  defined  vein  of  ore,  and  all  well  timbered.  This 
lode  has  a  tunnel  started  in  at  Gamble  Gulch,  and  on  the. 
east  end  of  the  property,  and  will  attain  a  depth  of  about 
800  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  hill.  This  tunnel  is  well 
timbered  and  planked. 

COLORADO  LODE. 

Fifteen  hundred  feet  in  length,  and  150  feet  in  width  of 
surface  ground,  75  feet  on  each  side. 

This  lode  was  discovered  in  the  year  i860,  and  was  for- 
merly known  as  the  '*  Maurer."  It  has  four  shafts :  one 
210  feet,  one  140  feet,  and  two  30  feet  deep  each,  and  all 


lO 

down  in  a  well-defined  crevice  of  iron  pyrites,  which  is 
trom  2i  to  6  feet  wide  in  shafts  and  drift,  driven  from 
bottom  of  75  feet  to  the  deep  shaft,  from  which  ore  has 
been  taken  that  yielded  in  stamp  mills  from  $75  to  $150 
per  cord,  in  gold.  This  lode  yields  largely  in  galena  ores 
carrying  a  large  percentage  of  silver,  and  is  justly  regarded 
as  one  of  the  most  valuable  in  the  district. 

A  tunnel  has  been  started  from  Gamble  Gulch,  and  is 
now  in  about  fifty  feet  on  the  crevice,  exposmg  about 
three  feet  of  crevice  material,  and  will  attain  a  depth  of 
about  400  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  hill 

The  ore  mentioned  in  the  followmg  assay  came  Irom 
this  mine. 

Philadelphia,  20th  March,  1864. 
Dear  Sir: — 

The  ore  which  you  left  with  us  for  assay  from  the  Maurer  Lode,  Colo- 
rado, is  found  by  us  to  yield  the  following  value  per  ton  of  2,000  pounds. 

In  Gold .,..$81.20 

In  Silver $95  49 

$176.49 
Rf  spectfully  yours, 

Dv  Bois  &  Williams. 

Below  is  the  average  of  nine  assays  made  by  Prof.  H. 
S.  Bradford,  of  New  York  City,  of  ores  taken  from  the 
Maurer,  now  the  Colorado  Lode,  in  the  year  1865.  Prof. 
Bradford  was  sent  to  Gold  Dirt  as  an  expert  by  the  Rol- 
lins Gold  Co.,  of  New  York,  to  test  the  ore  from  said  lode. 

Average  of  nine  assays,  $63.54,  in  gold,  per  ton  of  2,000 
pounds.  A  further  test  for  gold  was  made  as  follows  ; 
Result  of  run,  200  pounds  Maurer  ore,  in  Evan's  Amal- 
gamator; button  of  pure  gold,  coin  value,  14.05875  oz., 
or  $93.50  per  ton  of  2,000  pounds.  Silver  was  not  looked 
for  or  treated  in  those  days. 

OOMSTOCK  LODE. 
Fifteen  hundred  feet  in  length,  and  125  feet  in  width  of 
surface  ground  ;  fifty  feet  on  north  side,  and  seventy -five 
feet  on  south  side. 


II 

This  lode  was  discovered  in  the  year  i860,  and  was 
formerly  known  as  the  Surprise.  It  runs  100  feet  south 
of,  and  parallel  with  the  Ophir.  The  vein  has  been 
opened  and  worked  for  1,000  feet  in  length,  and  yielded 
from  $100  to  $200  per  cord,  in  a  stamp  mill.  About  in 
the  centre  of  the  1,000  feet,  a  shaft  has  been  sunk  about 
sixty  feet,  to  a  well  defined  crevice  of  iron  pyrites,  that 
run  from  $100  to  $200  per  cord. 

PERIGO  LODE. 

Thirty-three  hundred  feet  in  length,  and  50  feet  in  width. 

This  lode  is  one  of  those  discovered  in  i860,  and  has 
been  traced  for  over  one  mile  in  lenirth.  There  has  been 
a  large  amount  of  work  done  on  this  lode,  taking  out  top 
quartz,  which  run  in  stamp  mill  from  $1 50  to  $600  per  cord. 
When  the  sulphurets  were  reached  they  were  found 
to  be  quite  refractory,  and  could  not  be  successfully  treated 
in  a  stamp  mill,  therefore  work  was  suspended. 

There  was  over  $500,000  taken  from  the  top  of  this  lode, 
and  it  is  considered  to  be  one  of  the  best,  and  most  exten- 
sive in  Colorado.  This  lode  should  be  worked  by  a  tun- 
nel running  along  the  vein,  which  will  reach  a  depth  of 
over  2,000  feet  from  which  enough  good  ore  can  be  taken 
to  run  200  stamps  daily. 

BAKER  LODE. 

Fifteen  hundred  feet  in  length,  and  150  feet  in  width. 

This  lode  is  along  side  and  runs  parallel  with  the 
Perigo.  Several  shafts  have  been  sunk  on  it,  one  of  which 
is  60  feet  deep — well  timbered — from  which  there  was  con- 
siderable good  ore  taken  in  1878,  which  run  in  stamp  mill 
over  $100  per  cord. 

This  lode  is  held  under  State  and  U.  S.  laws,  and  not 
patented. 

TONAWANDA  LODE. 
Fifteen  hundred  feet  in  length,  and  150  feet  in  width. 
This  lode  is  near  the  Rollins  Mill  and  has  prospected 
well,  and  thought  to  be  a  good  lode.     It  has  one  shaft  on 


12 

it  40  feet  deep,  and  well  timbered  up,  from  which  consider- 
able good  ore  has  been  taken  out  and  showed  well  in  gold. 
The  convenience  of  this  lode  to  the  Rollins  Mills,  makes 
it  quite  valuable. 

This  lode  is  held  under  State  and  U.  S.  laws,  and  not 
patented. 

WATTERMAN  LODE. 

Fifteen  hundred  feet  in  length,  and  150  feet  in  width. 

This  lode  is  also  situated  near  the  Rollins  Mill  and  is 
considered  a  good  lode  carrying  Gold  and  Silver  and 
Copper.  One  shaft  has  been  sunk  40  feet,  and  well  tim- 
bered up,  from  which  considerable  ore  has  been  taken  to 
mills  in  former  days. 

This  lode  is  not  patented  but  held  under  State  and  U.  S. 
laws. 

SILVER  LODE. 

Fifteen  hundred  feet  in  length,  and  150  feet  in  width. 

There  is  three  shafts  sunk  on  this  lode — one  about  150 
feet  deep,  from  which  has  been  taken  a  large  amount  of 
ore,  and  run  in  mills  at  Rollinsville  in  early  days.  There 
is  in  this  lode  a  well  defined  crevice  about  two  feet  wide, 
and  ore  taken  from  it,  assays  over  $50  per  ton  in  gold,  and 
is  thought  to  be  rich  in  silver,  but  never  worked  for  it. 

This  lode  is  near  the  Rollins  Mill  and  when  properly 
developed,  will  prove  to  be  a  valuable  property  for  any 
company. 

This  lode  is  held  under  State  and  U.  S.  laws. 

TUNNELS. 
It  is  proposed  to  continue  the  tunnels  mentioned  above. 
These  said  veins  being  all  cut  by  Gamble  Gulch,  present 
unusually  favorable  opportunities  for.  such  developments. 
Said  tunnels  or  drifts  will  attain  a  depth  on  the  various 
veins  of  from  400  to  2,000  feet  below  the  surface,  and  can 
be  run  at  a  very  moderate  cost,  and  after  a  short  time  will 
pay  their  own  expense  in  ore  and  more  fully  develop  the 
mine.     This  will  secure  thorough  drainage,  without  any 


13 

expense  for  many  years,  on  any  scale  of  working  that  may 
be  adopted,  and  the  ore  taken  directly  from  the  mines  to 
the  mill,  without  the  great  expense  involved  of  hoisting 
the  ore  to  the  surface  through  shafts 

ROLLINS  STEAM  QUARTZ  MILL. 

Is  situated  in  RoUinsville,  two  miles  from  the  mines  and 
twelve  miles  from  Central  Citv,  by  the  stage  road,  on 
South  Boulder  Creek.  The  settlement  has  one  large  pub- 
lic house,  and  many  other  buildings,  and  is  one  of  the 
healthiest  and  most  delightful  spots  in  the  State.  The 
U.  S.  Mail  is  carried  every  day,  (except  Sundays)  through 
the  place.     A  post-office  in  the  RoUinsville  House. 

The  mill  is  a  large  building,  well  built  of  timber  and 
stone,  and  is  about  80  x  too  feet,  built  in  steps  on  the  side 
of  a  hill,  and  well  calculated  to  handle  gold  and  silver  ores 
at  very  slight  cost.  It  has  an  eighty-horse  power  engine 
and  boilers  in  perfect  order ;  twelve  quartz  stamps,  and  an 
abundance  of  room  for  fifty  more ;  is  well  provided  with 
pulverizing  pans,  crusher,  amalgamation  pans  and  tables, 
shafting,  belting,  and  all  the  necessary  conveniences  for 
successfully  manipulatmg  gold  and  silver  ores  ;  has  a  never 
failing  supply  of  pure  water ;  a  race-way  which  conducts 
water  into  the  mill  from  South  Boulder  Creek,  and  can  be 
made  of  sufficient  capacity  to  run  the  mill  by  water  power. 
This  mill  is  finely  situated  for  the  purpose  for  which  it  was 
intended.  There  is  a  road  from  RoUinsville  into  Middle 
Park  and  Western  Colorado,  from  this  point.  All  of  the 
above  mining  properties  have  cost  me  over  $2^,000,  and 
being  without  the  means  to  put  them  into  proper  work- 
ing shape,  I  therefore  propose  to  consolidate  it  all  into  a 
Company  or  Companies,  as  circumstances  shall  warrant. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  VARIOUS  REPORTS  AND  LETTERS. 

From  a  report  of  a  committee  in  1864,  of  which  Dr.  F. 
H.  Judd  was  chairman,  appointed  by  citizens  to  ascertain 
the  approximate  product  of  the  Gold  Dirt  mines: 


14 

The  yield  of  the  Gold  Dirt  Lode,  now  the  Ophir,  Virginia  and  Crown 
Point,  since  the  summer  of  1862,  as  follows  : 

J.  Q.  A.  Rollins  claim $250,000 

Hollister  &  Co.  claim 200,000 

Fairbanks  &  Keene  claim 70,000 

Mulligan  Bros,  claim 15,000 

Elliott  &  Fowler  claim 65,000 

Grill,  Hulburt  &  Co.  claim 150,000 

Gold  Dirt  Co.  claim  120,000 

Hall,  Evans  &  De  Peyster  claim. .    ...       60,000 

$930,000 

From  a  letter  from  Lee,  Judd  &  Lee,  and  others,  dated 
November  4,  1863,  and  addressed  to  Hon.  S.  H.  Elbert, 
Secretary  of  the  Territory  : 

"The  Gold  Dirt  is  and  has  been  rich  in  gold-bearing  ore  from  the  sur- 
face down  to  the  depth  as  worked.  The  ores  have  heretofore  paid  by  the 
imperfect  process  of  working  and  amalgamation,  upon  an  average,  about 
forty  dollars  per  ton.  This  result,  we  think,  is  noi  mare  than  one  third  the 
amount  the  ores  will  pay,  by  the  new  process  of  desulphurizing,  which  is 
rapidly  being  adopted  by  our  mining  men. 

"  The  Gold  Dirt  has  been  known  since  1859  ^s  one-of  the  principal  gold- 
bearing  lodes  of  this  mining  region,  and  we  regard  its  location  as  especially 
favorable.  The  supply  of  wood  is  almost  inexhaustible,  as  the  entire  face 
of  the  mountains  in  the  neighborhood  is  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of 
pine  and  spruce. 

"  Lee,  Judd  &  Lee,  and  others." 

From  Col.  Dodge,  formerly  Superintendent  of  the  Gold 
Dirt  Tunnel  and  Mming  Co.,  dated  October  30,  1863  : 

*  *  *  I  have  worked  several  lodes  in  this  Territory,  and  know  of 
none  less  difficult  to  mine  than  the  Gold  Dirt  Lode.  The  crevice  is  wide, 
and  the  vein  and  wall-rock  easy  to  drill  for  blasting.  For  these  reasons 
you  can  mine  the  ore  in  this  lode  at  two-thirds  the  expense  of  mining  in 
many  of  the  lodes  of  the  Territory.  *  The  best  ore  yields  $300  per  cord 
*  The  lode  is  one  of  the  richest  and  best,  both  in  quality  and  quantity 
of  ore  and  quality  of  gold,  in  the  Territory,  and,  if  properly  developed  and 
worked,  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying,  would  yield  large  returns  on  capi 
tal  invested.  *  I  know  of  no  property  more  favorably  located  in  reference 
to  all  the  facilities  for  mining  on  a  large  scale. 

From  N.  W.  Brown,  Foreman  and  Plate  Tender  of  the 
Gold  Dirt  Tunnel  and  Mining  Company  : 

I  have  been  acquainted  with  the  Gold  Dirt  Lode,  and  have  worked  and 
experimented  with   the  ore   taken   from    said   Lode,  since   August,  1862. 


15 

From  August,  1852,  I  took  charge  of  the  mill  known  as  Rollins*  Mill;  had 
charge  of  the  same  until  the  first  of  May,  1863.  I  had  entire  charge  of  the 
mill,  and  the  amount  of  quartz  run  through  per  day,  also  the  entire  charge 
of  cleaning  up  the  amalgam,  and  retorting  the  same.  This  ore  was  of  the 
richest  quality.  During  this  time  the  ore  averaged  $350  per  cord.  A  cord 
averaging  in  weight  about  seven  tons.  Our  weekly  retorts  often  amounted 
to  $1,700,  from  about  four  cords  of  ore.  I  am  satisfied  that,  with  a  good 
first-class  mill  and  machinery,  I  can  take  from  the  ore  of  the  Great  Dirt 
Lode,  on  an  average,  as  it  comes  out  of  the  shaft,  $300  per  cord  by  the 
stamping  process  alone.  1  have  worked  in  mining  lodes,  and  with  the  ore 
of  many  lodes  in  this  territory,  and  consider  the  Gold  Dirt  Lode  one  of  the 
very  best  and  richest,  both  in  quantity  and  quality  of  ore,  and  in  quality  of 
gold,  in  this  country. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  Gold  Dirt  Lode  so 
frequently  mentioned  in  the  above  extracts,  is  now  the 
Ophir,  Virginia  and  Crown  Point,  and  re-located  by  me, 
under  the  above  names,  and  now  held  by  new  locations, 
under  existing  laws,  my  title  to  the  same  being  unques- 
tioned. 

From  a  letter  written  by  John  H.  Langley,  dated  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1864,  formerly  a  mining  superintendent  of  the 
Perigo  Lode : 

I  have  been  in  the  mining  business  in  said  district  for  three  years,  and 
consider  it  second  to  none  in  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  gold-bearing 
lodes  in  the  district  are  numerous,  among  the  most  prominent  of  which  are 
the  Gold  Dirt,  Maurer,  New  York,  and  Lyneus  Lodes,  now  called  Savage. 
These  have  all  been  worked  with  satisfactory  results,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
that  many  other  lodes  in  the  district  will  be  equally  valuable  when  they  are 
more  fully  tested.  *  I  am  well  acquainted  with  Mr.  Rollins,  and  know  of 
no  man  better  qualified  to  make  a  better  selection  of  mining  property.  Mr. 
Rollins'  statement  can  be  fully  relied  on. 

There  is  quite  a  difference  in  the  purity  of  the. gold  from 
the  Colorado  mines,  and  this  difference  is  equal  to  from 
two  to  four  dollars  per  ounce  in  value. 

The  following  letter  refers  to  this  fact : 

New  York,  May  24,  1864. 
Mr.  Thomas  Bond, 

Dear  Sir  • — In  relation  to  our  views  in  regard  to  the  quality  of  the  gold 
taken  from  Gold  Dirt,  in  Independent  District,  Colorado  Territory,  we 
state  that  we  have  purchased  of  John  Q.  A.  Rollins,  and  others,  large 
lots  of"  Gold  Retort,"  from  said    district,  and  always  found   it  superior  in 


i6 


quality  to  any  other  in  Colorado  Territory,  and  we  consider  the  richness  of 
the  lodes  in  Independent   District  equal  to  any  in  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

Yours  respectfully, 

J.  KiRBE,  of  KouNTZ  &  Bros.,  Bankers. 

Rogers  &  Wilcox,  Bankers,  Denver. 

Clark  &  Co.,  Bankers,  Denver. 

Extract  from  a  letter  from  Clark,  Gruber  &  Co.,  Bank- 
ers of  Denver : 

Banking-Hotjse  of  Clark,  Gruber  &  Co.,) 
Denver,  Colorado,  Sept.  26,  1863.  f 

*****  We  have  had  a  business  and  social  acquaintance 
with  Messrs.  Sweet  &  Hollister  since  the  Spring  of  i860.      *         *        * 

We  have  bought  of  them  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  worth 
of  gold,  idiken  from  their  claim  upon  "the  celebrated  Gold  Dirt  Lode,"  (now 
the  Virginia).  We  have  assayed  and  coined  thisg  old  in  our  private  mint, 
and  can  testify  to  its  being  the  finest  quality  of  lode  gold  taken  out  in  our 
mines.        ********* 

Clark,  Gruber  &  Co. 


Nederland,  Boulder  County, 
Territory  of  Colorado,  March  10,  1876. 
John  Q.  A.  Rollins,  Rollinsville,  Colorado. 
Dear  Sir : — 

In  answer  to  your  inquiry  about  the  lode  mining  claims  now  owned 
by  you,  viz:  The  Gold  Dirt.  Maurer,  Wisconsin,  New  York  and  Surprise 
Lodes,  we  have  to  state  that  we  are  very  well  acquainted  with  the  above 
named  lodes.  Thai  we  had  charge  of  several  stamp  mills  that  run  ore  from 
the  said  lodes  ;  that  the  yield  of  gold  therefrom  was  always  good,  and 
sometimes  very  large.  We  believe  that  at  the  present  time,  with  the  im- 
proved system  of  stamp  mills  and  ore  reduction,  and  the  low  price  of  labor 
and  mining  supplies — compared  with  what  it  was  when  we  had  charge  of 
said  mills — that  the  lodes  named  could  be  worked  at  a  large  profit.  We 
have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  this  mining  property  is  good,  and  we  do 
not  know  of  a  better  group  of  lodes  in  this  Territory. 
Respectfully  yours, 

A.  W.  Brown, 
Wm.  Bryant, 


Central  City,  Colorado,  April  10,  1876. 

We,  the  undersigned,  citizens  of  Gilpin  County,  Colorado,  hereby  certify 

that  we  have  been  well  acquainted  with  what  are  known  as  the  Gold  Dirt 

mines,  and  Independent  Mining   District,  Gilpin   County,    Colorado,  for 

many  years  last  past,  now  claimed  by  John  Q.  A.  Rollins.     We  know  that 


17 

some  of  the  mines  have  in  years  past  produced  very  large  results,  and  are 
among  the  best  gold-bearing  mines  in  the  Territory.    We  are  satisfied  from 
our  knowledge  of  these  mines,  that  with  the  present  cost  of  labor  and  sup- 
plies, they  could  be  worked  with  good  paying  results.  Zio*-*ri> 
CUiZj  tjrJt^  ^Ju^Si  UZSy  Wm   A.  Arnold.                J.  A.  Thatcher,  ff/n^ff' t  '^J^ 
Sl^i^^  ^  (UifJ'.^^UJ''^-  M-  Marshall,               Samuel  Meschler,  Mc^r^^ 
/22     '               ^^^            ^  ^*  ^*  Henderson,              Otto  Sauer,  Vyri^rUx  .U>  5??»t. 
Aftx^wTj/  ^•a^**^/^*^  ^h^xi  Smith,                       J.  C.  McShane,        ^^ 
J  ^'***\^,a^;*^/^*^  ^'  D-  Belden,                     L.  C.  Rockwell,     A^Z^^^ 
^^""^ry^.  y~  jfiZiy--           Harley  B.  Morse,               W.  R.  GoTsUne,Ji^_^^  ^  i 
^7I£..J^*-U^      James  Clark,                       D.C.Collier.    ^,^,^^4, 
A;^^/2.*..^-7'^>^/-^^V-B°^»^^*^k'                  Clinton  Reed,     cUTT^duL^ 

•*7^^   ^        _,7   ^.         Henry  Paul,  Hal.  Say er.    flt^  J   J> 


Here  I  present  you  in  a  more  condensed  form  all  the 
the  property  which  I  propose  to  sell  to  a  Company,  or 
individuals ;  retaining  one-half  interest  for  myself: 
Patented  Lodes. 

Fifteen  hundred  feet  on  the  Comstock  lode. 

Fifteen  hundred  feet  on  the  Ophir  lode. 

Three  hundred  feet  on  the  Virginia  Lode. 

Fifteen  hundred  feet  on  the  Crown  Point  lode. 

Fifteen  hundred  feet  on  the  Savage  lode. 

Fifteen  hundred  feet  on  the  Colorado  lode. 

Fourteen  hundred  feet  on  the  Perigo  lode. 

Fifteen  hundred  feet  on  the  Perigo  lode. 

Three  hundred  feet  on  the  Perigo  lode. 

Fifteen  hundred  feet  on  the  New  York  lode. 

Fifteen  hundred  feet  on  the  White  Pine  lode. 

Lodes   held    under  State  and  United  States  laws  and 
ready  to  be  entered  and  patented  from  government : 

Fifteen  hundred  feet  on  the  Baker  lode. 
Fifteen  hundred  feet  on  the  Tonawanda  lode. 
Fifteen  hundred  feet  on  the  Watterman  lode. 
Fifteen  hundred  feet  on  the  Silver  lode. 
Making  20,000  linear  feet  of  lode  claims. 

PATENTED  PLACER  LANDS. 
One   hundred   and   twelve   acres    on    Gamble    Gulch . 
There  has  been  considerable  gold  taken  out  of  this  gulch 


i8 

and  much  more  can  be  taken  out.  It  is  also  quite  valuable 
for  road  purposes,  as  ihe  gulch  leads  from  the  Rollins ville 
quartz  mill  to  all  the  mines. 

Seventy-nine  acres  on  Moon  Gulch.  The  description 
of  Gamble  Gulch  will  answer  for  this.  It  also  leads  to 
some  very  valuable  gold  lodes,  lately  discovered,  and  con- 
venient to  the  Rollins  mill. 

GOLD  PLACER  LANDS. 

Taken  up  and  held  under  United  States  and  State  laws 
and  ready  lo  be  entered  from  the  government. 

Eighty  acres  of  gold  placer  land  adjoining  RoUinsville 
on  South  Boulder  creek.  This  tract  of  land  is  believed  to 
be  quite  valuable  for  gold  and  is  valuable  for  farming  pur- 
poses. 

PATENTED  AGRICULTURAL  LANDS. 

One  hundj  ed  and  sixty  acres  -the  Rollins  farm — at 
RoUinsville,  all  under  fence  and  crops.  Upon  which  is 
built  the  RoUins  House,  a  large  quartz  mill,  quartz  house, 
carpenter  shop,  smith  shop,  a  large  barn  and  five  log 
houses.  And  which  is  one  of  the  prettiest  places  in  Col- 
orado for  a  summer  resort  tor  tourists. 

One  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  agricultural  land  adjoin- 
ing RoUinsville,  called  Fisherville,  aU  lenced  and  under 
crops,  upon  which  is  built  two  large  frame  mills  with  good 
water  power,  and  five  log  houses — good  dwellings  for 
employees  of  a  company.  This  is  a  so  a  very  pretty  place 
for  residences.  As  fine  crops  have  been  raised  on  this 
farm  as  ever  were  grown  on  the  earth ;  rye  7  feet  high, 
wheat  and  oats  6  feet  high.  Potatoes  and  other  vegetables 
grow  in  abundance  and  are  good. 

Five  hundred  acres  of  timber  and  agricultural  land  ad- 
joining RoUinsviUe  caUed  the  Gooch  farm,  mostly  under 
good  fence  and  about  one-half  in  grain  and  grasses,  upon 
which  is  a  good  frame  barn,  and  three  log  houses  of  little 
value.  Upon  this  land  are  three  lakes  of  pure  water,  ca- 
pable of  raising  millions  of  fish. 


One  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  good  timber  land  about 
three  miles  from  Rollinsville  and  patented.  It  is  quite 
valuable  for  building  purposes. 

Eight  hundred  acres  of  timber  and  agricultural  land 
near  and  adjoining  Rollinsville,  pre-empted  and  held  under 
the  State  and  United  States  laws,  and  can  be  patented  at 
any  time  the  land  is  paid  for  to  the  government.  This 
land  is  quite  valuable  for  timber  and  pasturage  and  much 
of  it  can  be  cultivated  for  crops  with  success. 

In  addition  to  the  various  mines  above  partially  de- 
scribed, I  have  a  section  of  patented  land  upqn  which  are 
situate  the  quartz  mill,  the  Rollins  Hotel,  and  a  large  frame 
barn,  and  many  other  buildings,  such  as  store,  shops,  and 
tenement  houses  ;  this  tract  of  land  is  largely  meadow, 
and  will  produce  more  hay  and  grain  than  will  be  needed 
to  feed  the  stock  used  in  carrying  on  the  mining,  however 
extensive.  Finally,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  the  mines  are 
of  great  value,  and  the  surrounding  facilities  for  working 
them  are  unequaled,  because  of  water,  the  thousands  of 
cords  of  wood  controlling  by  the  location,  costing  from 
three  to  four  dollars  per  cord^  less  than  at  Central  or 
Black  Hawk,  and  the  gradual  descent  in  grade  from  every 
mine  to  the  mill  and  reduction  works,  and  the  further  fact 
that  all  buildings  except  for  furnaces  (if  needed)  are  ready, 
both  at  the  mines  and  at  the  mill  ;  I  say  without  fear  of 
successful  contradiction,  that  there  is  no  property  now 
for  sale  in  Colorado,  that  promises  so  well  to  the  investor. 
I  invite  a  thorough  investigation  by  miners  and  capitalists. 

As  additional  testimony  in  reference  to  the  Gold  Dirt 
Lode,  we  make  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  written 
by  Messrs.  Lee,  Judd  &  Lee,  of  Black  Hawk; 

Office  of  Caribou  Mine, 
Nederland,  Colorado,  October  29TH,  1878. 
To  whom  it  may  concern  : 

This  will  introduce  Mr.  J.  Q.  A.  Rollins,  who  goes  east  for  the  purpose 
of  disposing  of  an  interest  in  his  numerous  mines  located  near  this  place, 
of  which  I  am  well  acquainted,  also  with  Mr.  Rollins.  These  mines  con- 
sist of  the  well  known  Gold  Dirt,  Perigo  and  others  in  the  same  vicinity. 
I  have  known  these  mines  since  1861,  arid  regard  them  as  among   the  best 


20 

mines  in  Gilpin  County  if  properly  worked.  But  a  limited  amount  of 
money  will  be  needed  to  put  them  in  good  working  condition,  and  this  is 
why  Mr.  Rollins  visits  your  cities. 

Mr.  Rollins  is  a  miner  of  many  years  of  experience  and  is  entirely  com- 
petent to  judge  and  manage  mines.  I  have  known  him  since  1861,  and  my 
knowledge  has  been  favorable  and  intimate,  and  I  most  cheerfully  recom- 
mend him  to  business  men  generally. 

Respectfully, 

Eben  Smith,  Agent. 


Office  of  the  Briggs  Mine, 
Black  Hawk,  Colorado,  November  iith,  1878. 
To  whom  it  may  concern  : 

I  have  known  Mr.  J.  Q.  A.  Rollins  ten  or  twelve  years  ;  know  his  farm 
and  place,  and  consider  it  one  of  the  best  mountain  farms  in  Colorado.  I 
know  of  the  Perigo  and  Gold  Dirt  mines.  They  were  considered  rich  and 
valuable  property.  I  believe  they  have  not  been  worked  of  late  to  speak 
of.  I  think  if  they  were  properly  worked  they  would  be  among  our  best 
paying  mines. 

Respectfully  yours, 

G.  W.  Briggs. 


Central  City,  Colorado,  November  sth,  1878. 
Mr.  Reed,  182  Broadway,  N.  Y. 
Dear  Sir  : —  • 

Allow  me  to  introduce  to  you  Mr.  J.  Q.  A.  Rollins,  a  gentleman  of  high 
standing  in  our  County  and  a  miner  of  long  experience.  He  visits  your 
city  to  place  some  mining  property  ;  the  Crown  Point,  Ophir,  Perigo  and 
other  first-class  property.  The  property  that  he  represents  is  of  more  value 
in  my  judgment  than  the  Melvina  of  Boulder  County.  Any  attention  you 
show  Mr.  Rollins  will  be  a  personal  favor  to  me. 

Respectfully, 

J.  W.  Holm  AN, 

Mining  Superintendent. 


Central  City,  Colorado,  November  6th,  1878. 

7o  whom  it  may  concern  : 

I  have  known  the  bearer,  Mr.  J.  Q.  A.  Rollins,  intimately  for  the  past  ten 
years.  I  have  also  known  of  his  mining  properties  for  the  same  length  of 
time,  and  I  have  no  hesitancy  in  saying  that  there  is  no  better  gold  bearing 
mining  property  in  this  State,  especially  that  portion  called  the  Gold  Diit 
and  Perigo  properties.  I  can  recommend  this  property  to  any  person  who 
is  inclined  to  invest  in  mining  properties,  knowing  as  I  do,  with  an  ordin- 
ary capital  for  development,  that  the  properties  can  be   made  good   paying 


21 


ones  with  good  and  economical  management.     Mr.   Rollins  can  and   will 
verify  all  that  he  says  about  his  properties,  and  is  willing  to  have  them  in- 
spected by  any  expert  that  purchasers  may  select. 
Respectfully  yours, 

Thomas  J.  Richman, 

Supt.  Gregory  Mine, 

Central  Crrv,  Colorado.  November  sth,  1878. 
To  whom  it  may  concern  : 

This  is  to  certify  that  I  am  acquainted  with  the  property  of  J.  Q.  A. 
Rollins,  located  in  Gilpin  County,  Colorado,  and  known  as  the  Consoli- 
dated Gold  Dirt  Mines.  That  I  have  known  the  same  since  i860.  That 
the  several  lode  locations  are  upon  large  well-defined  gold  bearing  lodes. 
That  from  the  time  of  their  discovery  until  about  1864  they  were  among  the 
most  productive  mines  in  the  State,  their  products  running  up  to  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  dollars,  notwithstanding  the  then  crude  modes  of  treating 
ores.  Subsequently  the  most  of  this  property  was  sold  to  eastern  companies, 
which  sent  out  as  managers  men  wholly  unacquainted  with  mining,  and 
who,  in  a  majority  of  instances,  had  never  before  seen  a  mine.  These  men, 
through  ignorance  and  the  grossest  mismanagement,  not  only  failed  to 
make  the  mines  pay  but  incurred  debts  of  such  magnitude  that  many  cf 
the  properties  were  allowed  to  be  sold  in  satisfaction  thereof. 

In  other  mstances  the  companies  allowed  their  titles  to  lapse  by  reason 
of  non-compliance  with  the  Act  of  Congress  of  May  loth,  1872.  Through 
these  means  Mr.  Rollins,  who  has  been  acquainted  with  these  mines  since 
their  discovery,  an  1  who  was  well  acquainted  with  their  value,  becanie  the 
owner  thereof,  and  has  since  secured  U.  S.  patents  therefor,  his  title  to  the 
most  of  them,  being  now  in  fee. 

The  placer  mines  described  in  the  prospectus  are  located  on  the  gulches 
leading  from  the  lodes  above  referred  to,  and  sufficient  work  has  been  done 
upon  these  gulches  to  prove  them  of  great  value.  The  agricultural,  grazing 
and  timber  lands  are  of  the  very  best  quality  of  mountain  lands,  and  pro- 
duce the  finest  crops  of  hay,  grain,  potatoes  and  other  vegetables. 

The  location  is  equal  to  any  mountain  lands  in  the  State,  and  as  an  in- 
vestment, the  lands  alone  could  be  made  very  profitable.  .Taken  as  a 
whole,  I  do  not  know  of  a  more  desir.ible  property,  nor  one  from  which,  by 
judicious  management,  more  money  could  be  made.  As  an  investment  for 
capital,!  would  cheerfully  recommend  it  to  those^lookingfor an  investment 
of  like  character. 

Respectfully. 

Hal  Sayr. 

r.  S.  M.  S. 

Denver,  Nox'embbr  20TI!,  187S, 
John  B.  Drake,  Esq., 

Pacific  Hotel,  Chicago 
The  bearer,  J.  Q.  A.  Rollins,  Esq.,  of  Rollmsville,  iriipiu    t  ouniy. 'Colo- 
rado, visits  the  east  with  a  view  of  interesting  capital  in  the  development  of  a 


22 


group  of  mines  near  Rollinsville.  Mr.  Rollins,  after  many  years  of  patient 
labor  and  at  great  expense,  has  become  possessed  of  a  group  of  mines  among 
which  are  found  the  old  "  Gold  Dirt,"  "  Perigo"  and  "  Maurer,"  though  now 
patented  under  different  names,  because  of  legal  technicalities  in  obtaining 
patents.  I,  from  personal  knowledge  of  long  standing,  unhesitatingly  say 
that  there  is  not  in  Colorado  among  the  lodes  or  fissure  veins  so  valuable 
a  group,  whether  judged  from  their  past  history  or  present  prospect.  De- 
velopment is  all  that  is  needed.  A  pamphlet,  presented  herewith,  will  fully 
explain.  Any  aid  by  way  of  furthering  Mr.  Rollins  scheme  will  be  a  favor 
to  the  writer  personally. 

Yours  truly, 

William  S.  Rockwell. 


Central  City,  Colorado,  October  29,  1878. 
To  whom  it  may  concern  : 

The  mining  property  of  J.  Q.  A.  Rollins  near  Rollinsville,  Gilpin  County 
is  evidently  very  valuable,  ranking  among  the  best  in  this  section.  This  is 
especially  true  of  what  has  been  known  as  the  Perigo  and  Gold  Dirt  lodes 
which  have  been  located  for  a  distance  of  4,500  feet  each.  The  great  size 
of  these  veins  and  the  extreme  richness  of  the  quartz,  together  with  the 
remarkably  large  yield  of  former  days  place  them  in  the  front  rank  of  Col- 
orado gold  lodes.  Hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  worth  of  gold  were 
obtained  therefrom,  in  so  short  a  time  as  to  attract  universal  attention  and 
wonder  in  this  district.  This  was  previous  to  the  organization  and  subse- 
quent failures  of  the  companies  that  purchased  the  propeity. 

With  persistent  work  and  development  under  economical  management 
and  first  class  milling  facilities,  these  mines  would  undoubtedly  have  been 
paying  to  this  day,  and  I  know  of  no  idle  properties  in  the  State  that  offer 
greater  inducements  for  the  resumption  of  work  or  the  investment  of 
capital.  The  vast  reducing  in  mining  and  milling  expenses  of  all  kinds 
since  the  completion  of  the  Pacific  and  Colorado  Central  system  of  rail- 
ways bringing  steam  transportation  to  within  a  few  miles  of  Rollinsville  and 
Gold  Dirt,  is  another  strong  inducement  for  the  resumption  of  work  on 
these  mines.  By  the  resumption  of  work  I  mean  the  inauguration  of  min- 
ing operations  on  a  large  scale — the  mines  being  worked  at  the  present 
time  to  some  extent  with  gratifying  results.  What  is  needed  is  a  moderate 
amount  of  capital  to  open  the  mines  in  a  first  class  manner.  As  there  is 
ore  in  sight  in  those  parts  of  the  mines  now  worked  and  work  was  aban- 
doned elsewhere  with  ore  in  sight,  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  all 
outlays  would  soon  be  made  good  from  the  profits  of  the  mines.  Further 
than  this,  the  history  of  Colorado  mining  shows  that  all  lodes  that  paid  so 
enormously  near  the  surface  as  did  those  are  sure  to  do  so  at  great  depths* 
It  is  the  current  belief  here  that  if  these  mines  were  again  worked  on  a 
large  scale  they  would  rank  among  the  most  productive  and  profitable  in 
the  State.  I  understand  that  the  Gold  Dirt  has  been  relocated  as  the  Com. 
siock,  Ophir  and  Crown  Point,  and  the  Surprise  and  the  Maurer,  (two 
other  once  productive  veins)  as  the  Savage  and  Colorado    respectively. 


^3 

At  Rollinsville,  is  a  fine  mill  building  with  twelve  stamps,  etc.,  and  a  fine 
engine  and  boiler  of  great  size.  This  is  supplied  with  one  of  the  best 
water-founts  in  the  Stare  ;  with  fiume  in  first-class  condition.  This  mill  has 
lately  been  running  on  ore  from  the  Gold  Dirt  lode  when  worked  by  the 
tunnel,  now  driven  on  the  vein  in  a  good  body  of  mineral. 

Mr.  Rollins  also  owns  a  fine  tract  of  farming  land  at  and  near  Rollins- 
ville, which,  with  that  settlement,  forms  one  of  the  most  charming  localities 
in  this  grand  and  beautiful  mountain  region  of  Colorado  This  tract  of 
land  with  the  adjoining  farms  of  Messrs.  Gooch  &  Fisher,  forms  the  best 
and  largest  body  of  agricultural  land  that  I  know  of  in  this  part  of  the 
mountains.  Its  production  of  hay,  grain  and  vegetables  would  seem  won- 
derful to  those  accustomed  to  the  lighter  crops  of  most  Eastern  or  Western 
Slates.  These  farming  lands  like  the  20,000  feet  of  lodes  owned  by  Mr. 
Rollins  are  all  secured  by  government  titles  or  U.  S.  Government  patents, 
so  that  there  can  be  no  dispute  or  question  regarding  their  ownership. 

Frank  Fossett,  Publisher  "  Colorado." 


Central  City,  Colorado,  October  31,  1878. 
To  whom  it  may  concern  : 

I  have  been  employed  by  John  Q.  A.  Rollins  for  several  years  last  past, 
as  his  land  attorney,  in  making  applications  for  U.  S.  Patents  for  the  agricul- 
tural lands  claimed  by  him,  Fred.  T.  Gooch  and  Frank  Fisher  also  in  mak. 
ing  applications  for  U.  S.  Patents  for  the  various  mining  claims  owned  by 
them.  I  know  that  the  agricultural  lands  claimed  by  them  are  all  first  class 
and  that  the  titles  are  the  be«:t  known  to  our  laws  ;  being  nearly  all  patented 
lands  and  mining  claims.  I  am  somewhat  familiar  with  the  mining  claims 
that  Mr.  Rollins  puts  into  his  scheme,  and  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying 
that  I  believe  it  to  be  one  of  the  best  schemes  ever  offered  to  the  public  in 
the  way  of  lands  containing  valuable  farm  improvements;  also  valuable 
mining  and  Placer  mining  claims.  I  know  of  my  own  knowledge,  that  Mr. 
Rollins  has  expended  a  large  amount  of  money  in  developing  and  com, 
pleting  the  titles  to  the  mines  owned  and  controlled  by  him  ;  including 
lands,  mines  and  mills.  I  believe  it  to  be  one  of  the  largest  and  best  prop- 
erties in  the  State. 

Wm.  \.  Arnold. 


Central  City,  Colorado,  November  5, 1878. 
J.  Q.  A.  Rollins  Esq.,  Rollinsville,  Colorado. 
Dear  Sir  : — 
Agreeable  to  your  request,  we  take  pleasure  in  stating  what  we  know^ 
and  what  we  believe  respecting  your  property  at  Rollinsville  and  vicinity. 
We  have  known  the  Gold  Dirt  Lode  since  i860  and  1861.    We  do  not  know 


the  precise  amount  taken  from  this  Lode  during  the  time  of  two  years,  but 
do  know  that  it  yielded  enormously,  we  think,  several  hundred  thousands  of 
dollars,  and  that  at  immense  profits  on  the  expenditures.  The  same  maybe 
said  of  the  Perigo  Lode,  except  ihat  it  was  not  so  extensively  worked,  and 
yield  and  profits  were  not  so  great.  We  know  but  little  of  the  other  mines 
in  your  list,  except  that  some  of  them  appear  very  promising  from  such  de- 
velopment as  has  been  made  upon  them.  We  have  no  hesitation  in  giving 
our  opinion  that  these  mines  could  be  made  immensely  profitable  by  judi- 
cious working  and  economical  expenditure  of  money.  It  has  always  been 
our  opinion,  that  the  district  in  which  these  mines  are  situated  is  among 
the  best  in  Colorado,  and  only  needs  judicious  development  to  make  it  one 
among  the  greatest  gold  producing  districts  of  our  State. 

We  most  cheerfully  and  confidently  recommend  this  property  to  the 
favorable  consideration  of  capitalists  wishing  to  engage  in  mining. 

As  to  the  attractiveness  of  Rollinsville  as  a  place  of  residence,  or  the 
fertility  and  productiveness  of  the  farming  lands  adjoining,  and  mentioned 
in  your  list,  too  much  can  hardly  be  said. 

Very  respectfully, 

Jos.  M.  Marshall,  Register, 
E.  W.   Henderson,  Receiver, 

U.  S.  Land  Office. 


Office  of  the  Leadville  Mining  Company, 
New  York,  February  24TH,  1879. 
Mr.  J.  Q.  A.  Rollins. 
Dear  Sir  : — 
You  ask  me  my  opinion  in  relation  to  your  mines  at  Gold   Dirt,  Gilpin 
County,  Colorado.     I  can  say  that  I  visited  them  in  1865  for  a  New  York 
company,  and  found  the  "  Gold  Dirt,"  "  Perigo,"  "  Maurer,"  "  New  York  '* 
and  "  Wisconsin  "  lodes  to  be  true  fissure  veins  carrying  large  bodies  of 
valuable  gold  ore  or  mineral.     I  made  many  assays  of  these  ores,  some  of 
which  are  referred  to  in  your  prospectus,  invariably  finding  gold  in  paying 
quantities.     I  think  no  better  group  of  gold  mining  properties  or  lodes  can 
now  be  found  in  Colorado,  and  that  with  a  reasonable  and  wise  expenditure 
of  money,  they  can  be  made  to  return  handsome  returns  or  dividends. 

Respectfully, 

H.  S.  Bradford. 


JOHN  Q.  A.  ROLLINS, 

Proprietor, 
Rollinsville,  Gilpin  County,  Col.. 
Feb.  15,  1879. 


